Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-27
Coal Oil-Natural Gas.

II so happened that on the very
morning when appeared our editorial
advocating Mr. WHEnnER's Dill to ex-
plore the interior of the earth. and
telling what luxury natural gas must
be considered, the Petersburg inder.
Appeoi had an editorial on a kindred
topic. II quoted "a northern gentle
man who is the fortunate possessor OF
some seyenty-odd oil-wells " HI author.
ity for the statement that "wherevei
bituminous coal is found, there oil and
gas are not far of" We were rather
surprised TO meet with this broad de-
claration from one who would seem Ia
be an expert.
As to natural gas we cannot speak
from personal knowledge, never having
been where il, is found-at any rate, moi
since its discovery. But we visited
Burning Spring Run, West Virginia,
many years ago, when its oil-wells were
in full operation, and never heard any
body suggest that they owed any OF
their productiveness to coal. Certainly
no coal is found on Burning Spring
Run. At the time we were there, there
were we suppose we might say hun
dreds of wells completed and in progress.
But there was no coal of any sort found
in boring for oil Professor DENTON,
thirty years ago State geologist of Ohio,
said the so-called coal-oil was more like
aproduct of coral, so we heard at the
time. Anyhow, there is bituminous
coal in abundance all over Northwest
Virginia, but we never heard of any
natural gas being found in proximity to
those coal-beds. We think there must
have been a misunderstanding some
where. We quote:
"He gave it as his opinion, founded
upon his experience, that coal oil and
natural gus could be found in the i'm
mediate vicinity of this city. The gen.
tleman explained that oil and gas are
generally within twelve miles of the
soal-beds. rarely less. and not infre-
quently further removed than that dis
lance"
=. This latter remark, "rarely less and
not infrequently further" than twelve
miles, we can safely endorse.
But we set out to call attention again
to the desirability Of exploring the
"internal organism of Mother Earth.
On that subject, the Hacr-Appeal
says:
1.-The possibilities which this brief
statement opens up to some of Peters
burg's enterprising citizens are simply
wonderful. At comparatively small ex-
pense tests can be made to ascertain
whether oil or gas, or both, are within
the near neighborhood of the city. If
either were found the fortune of the
discOverer would be made and great
addition to the trade and consequent
prosperity of Petersburg. Suppose natu-
raj gas were disc overed? Our city could
be lighted with it, our factories, our
stores, and dwellings heated by it at
an enormously cheaper rate than by
present appliances. New enterprises
would spring up, employment would be
found for hundreds of willing hands,
more money would come into the city,
which, by reason of the discovery itself,
would assume new Importance, and a
new factor would spring into life in the
growth and advancement of the old
town. If oil were found, the cOndi-
tons, so far as the increased wealth of
the city is concerned, would be the
same indeed, if the experience of
other States may serve rs criterion,
the whole region of country about Pc
terSburg would feel the effects Of such
an enterprise"
The city of Wheeling and its vicinity
abound i'll bituminous coal, yet that
city has to go to Pennsylvania to get its
natural gas, and "A hundred miles to find
sO-called coal oil.
Nevertheless, our Petersburg con-
temporary's expert may be right. We
would fain wish that he may be. We
have seen on the south side of the
James, nearly hundred miles from
here, a region of country which re-
minded us of the oil region Of West
Virginia.
, Let us all speak a word for Mr..
WHEELEB's bill His explorations may
be made at some point far distant from
here, but we shall all be profted by
them. They may set the whole world
to boring for oil, gas, and new sub
stances.